I am pleased to share exciting news about the Extreme Tech Challenge in partnership with EdCast.
If you haven’t tried EdCast yet, I encourage you to explore the platform. EdCast is a social knowledge network that makes it simple to learn, connect and collaborate with experts worldwide. Members can join conversations, host or participate in communities, and share content. The platform also aggregates United Nations–supported information about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, offering a continuous source of curated learning and updates. I invite you to follow my profile on EdCast for updates and insights.
EdCast Insight Series to Host Live Q&As with Extreme Tech Challenge Top 25 Semifinalists
EdCast, the fast-growing social knowledge network, has partnered with the Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC)—the first startup competition associated with the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and Sir Richard Branson—to present live, interactive interviews featuring XTC’s Top 25 semifinalists. Beginning Wednesday, November 11, these interviews will stream at the Extreme Tech Challenge channel on EdCast, allowing viewers to ask questions and receive answers in real time.
More than 1,000 high-quality startups from around the globe entered this year’s competition for an opportunity to pitch live on stage at CES and ultimately present to Sir Richard Branson. The Top 25 semifinalists represent a range of countries and technologies, from healthcare and genomics to robotics, emergency services and consumer electronics. These companies embody current technology trends and innovative approaches to solving real-world problems.
“By partnering with EdCast, Extreme Tech Challenge allows the audience at home to play a meaningful role in the selection process as judges determine the Top 10 finalists,” said Karl Mehta, EdCast’s CEO and founder. “This Live Insights Series brings a unique educational experience to CES viewers, enabling deeper engagement with founders and their technologies.”
Bill Tai, co-founder of Extreme Tech Challenge, explains the competition’s goal as helping strong teams with proven product-market fit scale their companies through exposure and access to resources and networks.
Extreme Tech: Built on Social Good and Giving Back
EdCast’s Live Insights Series, launched in September, offers an interactive forum where global influencers and startup founders share practical insights and bite-sized learning to help address global challenges. The series is designed for lifelong learners and knowledge seekers who want to ask questions and engage directly with experts at no cost.
What’s next?
- Top 10 announced: November 29, 2015, on NBC Bay Area’s Press.
- Top 10 present live on stage at CES: January 8, 2016, in the Venetian Bellini Ballroom (2:00–4:00 PM PT). Open to CES attendees.
- Top 3 pitch to Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island: February 11, 2016, to determine the Extreme Tech Champion.
Top 25 Prize
Each of the Top 25 semifinalists receives a one-year free Table.co Pro account. Table is a collaboration ecosystem designed to help organizations and individuals move from closed, internal systems to open, scalable collaboration—enabling profile building, secure communication, and streamlined teamwork across boundaries.
Top 25 Semifinalists
- Admetsys — Smart artificial pancreas that stabilizes glucose levels. (Boston, MA)
- Ambercycle — Developing microbes and processes to break down waste plastics at scale. (San Francisco, CA)
- August Home — Smart access products for homes, including keyless entry solutions. (San Francisco, CA)
- Bloom Technologies — Wearable analytics for prenatal health monitoring. (San Francisco, CA)
- Captive Media — Interactive media and advertising platform with novel engagement methods. (London, UK)
- Genomic Expression — Tumor genetic testing to guide targeted cancer treatments. (New York, NY)
- Giroptic — 360° and VR cameras that capture immersive photos and video. (Lille, France)
- Abra — Global digital money transfer network using blockchain for identity verification. (Mountain View, CA)
- HobbyDB — A comprehensive collectible database and marketplace for collectors. (Boulder, CO)
- Hooch — Subscription-based cocktail service offering daily free drinks for a month. (New York, NY)
- Kickfurther — Crowdfunded inventory financing that helps brands go to market faster. (Boulder, CO)
- KonnectAgain — Alumni networking platform to boost engagement for colleges and corporations. (Ireland)
- Mainframe — Productivity-focused messaging platform designed as a modern alternative to email. (London, UK)
- MainTool — Watch straps that convert standard watches into smart devices. (Madrid, Spain)
- MassRoots — A fast-growing social network for the cannabis community. (Denver, CO)
- Megabots — A sports entertainment franchise featuring giant fighting robots. (San Francisco, CA)
- RapidSOS — Enhanced 911 service connecting mobile app users with emergency dispatch centers. (Boston, MA)
- Revolar — Wearable personal safety device that instantly summons help. (Boulder, CO)
- Sanovas — Micro-surgical tools enabling minimally invasive procedures. (San Rafael, CA)
- ScoreStream — Crowdsourced sports scores and coverage for high school and local sports. (San Diego, CA)
- Sixense — Wireless motion-tracking systems for immersive full-body virtual reality. (Los Gatos, CA)
- SmartPlate — Real-time food analysis that identifies and evaluates meals. (Philadelphia, PA)
- Sphero — Consumer robotics including the BB-8 app-enabled droid. (Boulder, CO)
- Tripcipe — Platform that consolidates trip planning into a single, collaborative toolkit. (Palo Alto, CA)
- Vantage Robotics — Designing safe, camera-equipped drones with intelligent tracking.
To learn more about the collaboration between EdCast and the Extreme Tech Challenge, read the related coverage and follow updates through EdCast’s channels.
About EdCast
EdCast is a social knowledge network built to improve collaboration and learning at scale. EdCast Knowledge Networks power social, mobile and cloud-based learning for institutions, enterprises, governments and nonprofits, enabling millions of lifelong learners to connect and share knowledge. The EdCast leadership team has a strong history of building large-scale, transformative technologies and is dedicated to the global impact of mobile and online education. EdCast is a Stanford StartX company backed by leading venture firms and is based in Mountain View, California, with offices worldwide.